i probably have a few dozen
2007-08-25 14:25:39 · 7 answers · asked by proofofignorance 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Genealogy
We all have the same number of ancestors. It depends on how far back you go. The question is how many ancestors do you know of?
We all have 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great-grandparents, 16 great-great-grandparents...
2007-08-25 14:35:06 · answer #1 · answered by Gypsy Girl 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Your direct ancestors are your great grandparents, great great grandparents etc.
So you can go back each generation. 2 parents, 4 grandparents 8 great grandparents etc. In 20 generations it can total up to more than a million people. Your direct ancestry pyraminds. Of course you have to realize you go back far enough and distant cousins probably married which will naturally alter the total.
However, your great great granduncles are your linear ancestors. People think too often when someone talks about being a descendant of someone only in terms of direct descendancy. You are a linear descendant of your great great granduncles etc. For instance if George Washington was one of your many times great granduncles you can state legimately you are a descendant of George Washington, but not a direct descendant.
In some cases if you go back far enough you might be a direct descendant and a linear descendant of the same person through different family lines.
Also puny websites like Dictionary.Com has a very incomplete definition of descendancy.
2007-08-31 10:30:08 · answer #2 · answered by Shirley T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Billions. But, I know the names and dates and places of only a few thousands.
It is not true that everyone has the same numbe of ancestors. In my case, mother to daughter generation averages about 35 years; male to male averages about 40 years.
When doing populations studies, etc., they usually use 20 - 25 years as an average generation.
2007-08-25 17:54:19 · answer #3 · answered by Nothingusefullearnedinschool 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have alot. And not everyone could have the same amount of ancestors. Going back far enough, there will be intermarriages and such. With working on my genealogy, I found out that my parents are distant cousins (6th). It's distant enough, but you can't count those same ancestors twice.
2007-08-25 14:40:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know since I've never seen my family tree.
2007-08-29 15:22:00 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
around 1509
http://zrae66.tribalpages.com/
2007-08-25 18:49:12 · answer #6 · answered by DrMichael 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have all of them.
2007-08-25 14:33:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋